UH BOWLING TEAM
GENERAL INFORMATION

Intercollegiate eligibility rules are adopted and enforced by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program Joint Oversight Committee.

Intercollegiate Bowling Program Membership
Eligibility Rule
Rule 400-IP

1. Membership in the Intercollegiate Bowling Program is open to all men and women currently enrolled in a higher education institution.

2. Bowlers who are under suspension from YABA Youth Division membership or under suspension or ineligible for WIBC or ABC membership are ineligible for membership in the Intercollegiate Bowling Program.

3. All awards for sanctioned conferences and tournaments must conform to the following standards as established by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program.

• a. A campus tournament sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program shall only provide awards that are compatible with policies adopted by the institution.

  b. An intercollegiate tournament sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program shall only provide awards and similar mementos that are compatible with traditional college requirements as to what constitutes an acceptable award. Monetary prizes may be offered in the form of scholarship grants provided the money is given to the school in the name of both the intended recipient and the college. It is unacceptable to award cash prizes directly to participants in sanctioned Intercollegiate Bowling Program events.

Membership Year
Rule 401-IP

The Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership year shall be from Aug. 1 to July 31 of the following year. Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership shall expire on July 31 of the season in which membership was issued or when a member is no longer enrolled in a higher education institution.

Membership, How to Obtain
Rule 402-IP

1. To become a member in the Intercollegiate Bowling Program, an intercollegiate bowler must first purchase a membership card from ABC, WIBC, or the YABA Youth Division. Membership in the Intercollegiate Bowling Program shall be obtained through the intercollegiate bowling coach/advisor If competition is comprised entirely of intercollege bowlers, all participants must be Intercollegiate Bowling Program members. All membership is applied for through the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office. Upon completion and submission of the Intercollegiate Bowling Program Application for Membership and fees, each Intercollegiate Bowling Program shall receive an intercollegiate sanction number and individual membership stickers for each member to place on their ABC, WIBC or YABA Youth Division membership card.

2. NON-MEMBER PARTICIPATION FEE - Eligible bowlers who wish to compete in an intercollegiate tournament, but do not hold an Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership sticker, shall pay $5 (U.S. dollars) participation fee (per tournament) to the tournament manager. ABC and WIBC affiliate membership fees also will apply. All Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership fees (college individual) shall be paid prior to participating in a sanctioned intercollegiate tounament/conference. Presentation of the individual mebership sticker is required.

Intercollegiate Bowling Program
Membership Fees
Rule 405-IP

INTERCOLLEGIATE BOWLING PROGRAM - Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership entitles bowlers to participate in all sanctioned intercollegiate conferences and tournaments. Intercollegiate membership requires payment of both:

• a. Intercollegiate Bowling Program fee of $75 (U.S. dollars) per college campus.

  b. Individual fee of $5 (U.S. dollars) per participant.

Penalty For Unfair Tactics
Rule 406-IP

Intercollegiate Bowling Program members, or non-members applying for Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership, violating the provisions of this rule shall be liable for suspension of or denial of Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership privileges:

1. Attempting to gain an unfair advantage:

• a. By directly or indirectly tampering with lanes, bowling pins and/or bowling balls so they no longer meet ABC/WIBC specifications.

  b. By misrepresenting an average either to gain a greater handicap or qualify for a lower classification in a sanctionedd league or tournament.

  c. By establishing an average below their ability and thereby gaining an unfair advantage in handicap or classified competition.
  Penalty - Forfeiture of game or games including awards and/or suspension of membership.

2. Placing the game of tenpins in jeopardy of unfair criticism of the use of dishonest, disreputable tactics in connection with the game of bowling.

3. Using an assumed name or bowling under the name of another person scheduled to bowl in a sanctioned conference or tournament.
Penalty - Forfeiture of all games in which such a player was used. All involved and found guilty shall be liable for suspension of membership.

4. Conduct derogatory to the best interest of intercollegiate bowling, incuding the use of tobacco products or alcoholic beverages while competing in conference or tournament play.

5. Misuse of any funds entrusted to them as a conference officer, team captain, or tournament official.

6. Participation in bowling activities in violation of Intercollegiate Bowling Program eligibility rules.

Ineligible/Suspended Bowlers
Rule 407-IP

A player suspended from membership in the Intercollegiate Bowling Program shall be ineligible to participate in all sanctioned conferences and tournaments or to hold any conference or tournament office. Academically ineligible player are not eligible to participate in Intercollegiate Bowling Program sanctioned events.

1. The use of an academically ineligible or suspended player shall result in a forfeit of any event in which the player was used. Any awards and/or scholarship money earned using an ineligible player during tournament or conference play will be forfeited. Eligible players can use their individual scores for determining awards.

2. Academic ineligibility does not affect YABA Youth Division eligibility.

Procedures For Suspension Action
Rule 800-IP

1. For infractions of the Intercollegiate Bowling Program and applicable ABC/WIBC/YABA rules.

• a. Infractions must be reported in writing to the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office.

  b. The intercollegiate coach, tournament director or conference secretary will assume the responsibility of following the suspension procedures issued by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office, and file a written report with that office.

  c. The Intercollegiate Bowling Program office will give written notice to the individual team, and intercollegiate coach, tournament director or conference secretary of the decision.

2. Individuals wishing to appeal the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office decision must follow these steps:

• a. Appeals must be made in writing to the Intercollegiate Bowling Program Joint Oversight Committee within 30 days.

  b. Copies of the appeal must be sent to the team, intercollegiate coach, tournament director or conference secretary, and the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office.

  c. On matters involving any rule related to collegiate eligibility, the decision of the Intercollegiate Bowling Program Joint Oversight Committee shall be final and binding. On matters involving Rule 406-IP or any other ABC/WIBC playing rules, the decision of the Intercollegiate Bowling Program Joint Oversight Committee may be of either the WIBC or ABC depending upon the membership of the collegiate bowler in question. Such appeal must be in writing and shall be made within 15 days of the decision of the Intercollegiate Bowling Program Joint Oversight Committee.

Reinstatement Of Membership Privileges
Rule 801-IP

Individuals suspended from or denied Intercollegiate Bowling Program membership may file a written application for reinstatement of membership privileges with the intercollegiate coach having original jurisdiction. Reinstatement cannot be granted until applicants have concluded the specified period of ineligibility, during which time they have refrained from any type of bowling competition in violation of Intercollegiate Bowling Program rules.

The Intercollegiate coach shall follow the Reinstatement Procedures issued by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program. The status of applicants shall remain unchanged until individuals have been advised of reinstatement by the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office.

Intercollegiate Tournament Sanctioning

Eligibility for Intercollegiate Bowling
Program Sanctions
Rule 701-IP

The tournament manager can establish eligibility for Intercollegiate Bowling Program sanctioned tournaments under one of the following conditions, and the eligibility rules must be carried on the entry forms and/or posters.

• a. Limit entry to Intercollegiate Bowling Program members only.

  b. Limit entry to Intercollegiate Bowling Program members and eligible non-members who pay a tournament participation fee of $5 prior to bowling.

Only entrants who are ABC, WIBC or YABA Youth Division members before participation in the tournament are eligible for ABC, WIBC, or YABA awards.

Baker Competitions
Rule 714-IP.

The following guidelines must be adhered to in order for tournament formats using the Baker system of scoring to be sanctioned:

• a. Only traditional games (team, doubles, singles) are eligible for awards.

  b. For National Qualifiers qualifying purposes only, five Baker games shall equal one team game.

Intercollegiate Bowling Program Policies

Amateur Eligibility - Sanctioned intercollegiate activites are considerd amateur events. Individuals who are considered "professionals" pursuant to the PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP Policy are not eligible to bowl in intercollegiate events.

Only sanctioned competition involving more than on school shall be considered intercollegiate competition. In order for an intercollegiate team to be considered for the National Qualifiers or National Intercollegiate Bowling Championships competition, all participating team members must meet or exceed the following rules:

1. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

• a. An individual who is classified as a touring and/or resident professional by a professional bowling organization. If an organization's title uses the word professional, individuals applying for membership or holding membership in that organization shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition.

  b. An individual who has ever applied for or held membership in any professional bowling organization or who identifies himself or herself as a professional may appeal for a waiver a minimum of three years after expiration of his or her professional membership

2. REQUEST FOR WAIVER. Individuals may request a waiver of eligibility rules when circumstances beyond their control result in an unwarranted forfeiture of eligibility. A request for waiver shall be submitted in writing to the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office, and will be considered in the same manner as an appeal or protest. The following examples require a request for waiver:

• a. A transfer hardship request may be applied for if the institution discontinues an academic program, the player's coursework for that major program has been completed at that institution or a recognized intercollegiate bowling program is discontinued.

  b. Credit hours - A class repeated due to an unsatisfactory initial grade may be used only once in meeting satisfactory progress requirements.

  c. Remedial or non-credit courses may be used to satisfy minimum academic progress requirements provided the institution considers the courses and gives those classes the same equivalent as others at the institution

Intercollegiate Bowling Program Policies
(Continued)

3. CREDIT HOURS. All bowlers (graduate and undergraduate) shall, at the time of competition, be registered as full-time students which:

• a. Shall not be less than 12 semester or quarter undergraduate hours for participating undergraduate students.

  b. Shall not be less than six actual semester or quarter hours for participating graduate students.

4. GRADE POINT AVERAGE. Bowlers must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) at the college they are representing.

• a. A 2.5 GPA is required at institutions on a 5.0 scale.

  b. Any organization with GPA requirements less than Intercollegiate Bowling Program requirements may use those requirements in a sanctioned Intercollegiate Bowling Program event as long as the participating team or members are only from that organization.

  c. Any Intercollegiate Bowling Program sanctioned event that includes members outside that organization must use the Intercollegiate Bowling Program GPA requirements.

5. SATISFACTORY PROGRESSIVE RULE. Bowlers who have participated in any sanctioned intercollegiate competition prior to the current season must complete the following minimum academic progress requirements for continuing education:

• a. Semester system requirements:

  Prior to second season of participation - 24 hours minimum.

  Prior to third season of participation - 48 hours minimum.

  Prior to fourth season of participation - 72 hours minimum.

  b. Quarter system requirements:

  Prior to second season of participation - 36 hours minimum

  Prior to third season of participation - 72 hours

  Prior to fourth season of participation - 108 hours minimum

In order for graduate student participants to remain eligible, participants are required to successfully complete a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours (semester system) or 18 graduate credit hours (quarter system) since the previous season of participation.

Bowlers who initially participated in sanctioned intercollegiate competition prior to Aug 1, 1986, and who do not meet the above academic progress requirements, will be deemed eligible if there has been successful completion of 24 semester/36 quarter hours for each season of participation after Aug. 1, 1986.

6. TRANSFERS. Students transferring from an institution with a sanctioned intercollegiate program in which they participated are not eligible for intercollegiate competition for one year. This rule does not apply to transfers from a two-year institution to a four-year institution.

7. LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY. Students (undergraduate or graduate) have a total of four years of eligibility.

• a. Students attending two-year institutions are eligible for two years or until they receive a degree.

  b. Students attending four-year institutions have four years of eligibility.

  c. Graduating students will be eligible to participate in the National Qualifiers/Intercollegiate Bowling Championships with less than full-time academic status providing they are taking the required courses needed for graduation for the current term.

8. USE OF ELIGIBILITY. Players rolling a ball in any sanctioned intercollegiate competition use a year of eligibility. Players participating while academically ineligible in any sanctioned intercollegiate competitition use a year of eligibility. Hardship cases involving medical/injury reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• a. Participation as a pacer does not constitute a year of eligibility. Documentation of such participation must be submitted to the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office.

  b. Eligibility status for participation between terms will be determined using the most recent term offered by the school. A player may be granted eligibility for participation between terms based on the Intercollegiate Bowling Program office being notified of the change eligibility status by submitting an additional eligibility form. Players will be eligible for competititon the day following the last scheduled examination offered by the institution's official calendar for the term that is ending.

  c. Participation as an individual (not on an intercollegiate team), does not constitute a year of eligibility.

9. ADVERTISEMENT. Advertising on uniform shirts fo the Intercollegiate Bowling Championship and National Qualifiers competitions must adhere to the following:

• a. Name of school must be on the back of the shirt with individual player's name optional.

  b. No advertising on the back of the shirt.

  c. Advertising limited to over the pocket and shirt sleeve.

  d. Uniform restrictions for all other intercollegiate events are at the discretion of the tournament manager or conference secretary.

10. MIXED TEAM. An intercollegiate mixed team is a team on which at least one female and male compete. Mixed teams are classified as men's teams and placed the in the men's division of the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, National Qualifiers and automatic berth tournaments. The following conditions apply:

• a. Women wanting to compete on a men's team will be allowed only if a women's team does not exist or has not competed during the current season.

  b. Men wanting to compete on a women's team will be allowed only if a men's team does not exist or has not competed during the current season.

  c. Placement of men and women in a tournament's all-events standings is at the discretion of the tournament manager. This information must be included in all tournament rules and/or entry forms.

Shirt Lettering and Advertising
Each team player must have the school name or initials, in letters a minimum of 1-inch high, on the shirt's back. Handprinted lettering is not allowed (professional air brush excluded). Removable plaques with school names are permitted. All lettering must be legible and identical to each team member's shirt.

Advertising will be permitted on uniforms provided it is not alcohol or tobacco related, and it follows guidelines outlined in the intercollegiate Bowling Program Rules (Rule No.9).

Women's Teams: Lettering or advertising must be located on the front right or left side of the team's skirts, culottes, skirts or walking shorts within a 6-inch block beginning with the outside seam and bottom hem. Within this block, lettering or advertising cannot exceed 2 inches in height and 4 inches in width. If the women's team is wearing trousers, it must follow the men's guidelines for trousers.

Men's teams Lettering or advertising must be located on the front right or left side of the team's trousers. All lettering or advertising must be within a 4-by-6 inch block beginning 9 inches from the top of the trousers. The 6-inch part of the block would begin with the outside seam. Within this block, lettering or advertising cannot exceed 2 inches in height and 4 inches in width.

Women's and Men's Appearance
All apparel worn by women and men must be loose fitting and not made of denim, fleece, nylon or spandex-like material. No jeans or warm-up suits of any kind are permitted. A neat appearance in both clothing and personal grooming is required by all competitors to accomodate photographs and interviews that can occur throughout the tournament.